The trip to Iowa State in the middle of the week has unfortunately put me waaaaay behind on absolutely everything, and as a result, we’ve only got time today for a very abbreviated game preview. Let’s cut right to the keys for tonight’s game…

1) Get Bryan Davis in foul trouble – Yes, we know that senior guard Donald Sloan leads the team with more than 17 points a game. And sure, no other Aggie even averages ten points (except for Derrick Roland, who is out for the year). But Texas A&M is a completely different team without their big senior, and if he’s riding the bench with foul trouble, Texas should be able to coast in this one.

Davis is the easily the team’s best post defender, so without his presence, the Texas frontcourt would have a field day. On the offensive side of the ball, his understudy David Loubeau can certainly score inside, but often doesn’t get in good position for entry passes and as a result the team’s guards will often settle for jumpers they shouldn’t be taking.

2) Keep the Aggies off the line – Texas A&M is the best team in the country when it comes to getting to the foul line, so the Longhorns must force their opponents to earn points from the field. Texas is clearly more talented and much deeper, so giving up free points will only serve to keep the Aggies close enough to start thinking about an upset.

3) Crash the glass – Texas A&M averages a thin +0.8 rebounding margin, but in two of their three losses they were outrebounded by double digits. Texas is a much bigger team and should win this battle on paper, but the last thing the Horns will need is to give the Aggies extra possessions by getting out-hustled on the boards.